Echocardiographic assessment of raised pulmonary vascular resistance: Application to diagnosis and follow-up of pulmonary hypertension

Abstract

Objective: To optimise an echocardiographic estimation of pulmonary vascular resistance (PVRe) for diagnosis and follow-up of pulmonary hypertension (PHT). Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Tertiary referral centre. Patients: Patients undergoing right heart catheterisation and echocardiography for assessment of suspected PHT. Methods: PVRe ([tricuspid regurgitation velocity X 10/ (right ventricular outflow tract velocity-time integral +0.16) and invasive PVRi ((mean pulmonary artery systolic pressure-wedge pressure)/cardiac output) were compared in 72 patients. Other echo data included right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), estimated right atrial pressure, and E/e′ ratio. Differen..